Are Girls Cut Out for Science?

by PS Leong

Image by Bing Images

“I want to be an engineer,” Mei Ling announced proudly in class for Career Week. But instead of clapping, her classmates simply stared at her. Maybe they didn’t hear me. Fixing her faltered smile, she cleared her throat and repeated her statement with a slight tremor – a little less sure this time. Janet, her classmate, raised her hand and directed the question to their teacher, “Miss Chong, isn’t that for boys?”

There is a mystery that has kept the world intrigued – why are there so few women in STEM-based careers?  Experts explain that if you want more women in STEM-based roles, you must first get more girls to major in science and math in schools and universities.  
Is Janet right? Is math and science for boys because girls are just not cut out for it? Let’s find out. 

Is it in the Genes?

One of the most popular theories that traditionalist buys into is the genes for comprehension of technical subjects are hiding on the Y chromosome. Are boys naturally more equipped for maths and science? 

Time magazine reports that a review of 308 studies involving 30 countries and more than 1.1 million boys and girls who were students from 1914 to 2011 shows that girls have been outperforming boys in all of their classes — reading, language and math and science. In fact, according to the data, girls have been outperforming their male counterparts for a 100 years. The study proves once and for all that in terms of genetics, girls are extremely capable at math and science. 

Nature Trumps Nature

Now that we can rule genes out, let’s take a look at the next theory that is said to be the major contributing factor why girls are seen as less competent in math and science. Culture and stereotypes are said to be the main culprits. The strong stereotype that deems science and math as a “boy’s thing” will eventually affects both genders – in different ways. 

Culture will segregate a boy’s and a girl’s interest in school subjects similar to how blue is preconceived as a boy’s colour. So, it’s not so much the case that girls are scoring lower in math and science but it’s more to do with girls being told boys are better at math and science. And girls are better off sticking to their strength such as social sciences and languages. This means the environment eventually becomes one the major hindrance to girls pursuing their interest in math and science. 

Science is for Boys and Girls

To encourage equality in education, parents and teachers need to play an active role to enforce that math and science are “everyone’s thing” and not gender specific. For a future where there’s equal number of women scientists and engineers, we need to ensure the Mei Lings of the world are given the support to keep their ambitions, and Janets of the world realizes a boy and girl can pursue any career they want as long as they have the passion and skill set for it.